Best Games Only Available On The Nintendo 64, Ranked
Competition between home console manufacturers got intense during the mid to late 90s, as Sony’s brand-new PlayStation was giving Nintendo a rough time. As a result, the company released the legendary Nintendo 64 during this time. This great console could play some of the best, most impressive, and most revolutionary video games ever made, like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Banjo-Kazooie, and more.
Regardless of whether it could beat the PS1 in the console wars or not, the Nintendo 64 eventually became one of Nintendo’s most beloved systems. Most of its games were later ported to other hardware, via apps like the Virtual Console or Nintendo Switch Online. However, there’s a fair share of solid Nintendo 64 exclusives that are still stuck on the console and deserve a true second chance.
We are going to be strict and only include games that are truly N64 exclusives, which excludes titles like Ogre Battle 64 that were made available through the Wii’s virtual console or the Switch’s Nintendo Classics.
8
Quest 64
A Rare N64 JRPG
When compared to its main competitor, the PlayStation, the Nintendo 64 lacked good JRPGs, with Paper Mario being one of the few exceptions. But this was not due to a lack of trying. Japanese developer Imagineer released a fun little RPG titled Quest 64 in 1998. Of course, it couldn’t compete with the likes of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, but it is still a solid little adventure that has gained a sizable cult following.
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Quest 64 is the perfect introductory JRPG for players who want to get into this popular but intimidating genre. It has accessible mechanics, a simple but effective combat system, a beautiful world, and great character and monster designs. Since it never received any subsequent ports, JRPG fans around the world can only experience Quest 64 by booting up their old N64 systems. It’s time for that to change.
7
Rakugakids
One Of The Most Distinctive Fighting Games Ever Made
Unlike RPGs, fighting games did a little bit better on the Nintendo 64 (mainly due to Rare’s Killer Instinct). Konami’s Rakugakids is one of the most forgotten releases for the console, despite being developed by such a big name. Sadly, American gamers missed out on this unique title, as it was only released in Japan and Europe. This is one of the main reasons it should be ported to modern systems, so more people get to experience this brilliant experience.
Rakugakids features a fascinating and endlessly charming art style (similar to Parappa The Rapper), with characters that are intentionally designed to look like a child’s doodles. As a result, no other fighting game has a roster that looks like this. On top of that, Rakugakids’ combat system has some fun, engaging, and accessible mechanics that are reminiscent of Street Fighter’s iconic gameplay, so it’s very easy to pick up.
6
Mario Artist Collection
The Long-Awaited Sequel To Mario Paint Was Relegated To The 64DD
- Platform: Nintendo 64DD
- Released: December 11, 1999 (Paint Studio)
- Developers: Nintendo EAD, Software Creations
- Genre: Creative
The Nintendo 64DD was a disk drive peripheral for the console that, while ambitious for its time, never resonated with audiences. It was a commercial failure and was never released outside of Japan. Nevertheless, the 64DD was still responsible for some fantastic video games, like its flagship title, the Mario Artist series. This was not a single game, but a collection of four pieces of creative software that players could connect: Paint Studio, Talent Studio, Polygon Studio, and Communication Kit.
Mario Artist was the spiritual successor to the SNES game Mario Paint. It allowed players to draw, color, create 3D models, develop minigames, and upload everything to the internet via the now-defunct dial-up service Randnet. Mario Artist was not just a game, but a tool for gamers to create whatever they could imagine on their N64. That’s why it was never ported to any other console: it was meant to be software that would attract potential 64DD buyers. Nowadays, there are many free apps that can do the exact same things.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
5
Buck Bumble
A Weird N64 Game Perfect For Star Fox Fans
The Nintendo 64 was home to countless bizarre video games that could not be played on any other system, and Buck Bumble was one of the most notorious examples. The fact that it has been forgotten by many is quite shocking, considering that it was developed by Argonaut Software (the studio behind the original Star Fox and Croc: Legend of the Gobbos) and published by Ubisoft.
Buck Bumble is a third-person shooter/shoot ’em up with clear Star Fox DNA. Players control the titular bee, which can fly around beautiful 3D environments and take down enemies with some surprisingly precise controls and weapons like lasers, rocket launchers, and more. However, much to the player’s surprise, the most memorable aspect of Buck Bumble is its weirdly charming theme song. Ubisoft must still own the IP to this hidden gem, so the European gaming giant could re-release it on modern consoles at some point in the near future.
4
Body Harvest
The Nintendo 64’s Equivalent To Grand Theft Auto
It’s mind-blowing to think that Rockstar’s massive Grand Theft Auto franchise would likely not exist if it weren’t for an ambitious video game exclusive to the Nintendo 64, known as Body Harvest. This game was released back when Rockstar North was named DMA Design, not long after the launch of the first 2D GTA game.
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This thrilling third-person shooter is all about hunting hidden aliens. But since it has a big focus on vehicles and a nonlinear open world that was very impressive for its time, most people consider Body Harvest to be the precursor of the 3D GTA entries, which the studio would later develop in the early 2000s. However, despite its undeniable importance to the history of gaming, it can still only be played on a Nintendo 64.
3
Mischief Makers
A Wonderful 2D Platformer, In An Era Obsessed With 3D Graphics
The Nintendo 64 was all about 3D graphics, which were brand-new and technically impressive back then. However, a wonderful side-scrolling adventure titled Mischief Makers got lost in a sea of 3D collect-a-thon platformers like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. Fortunately, it did gain a cult following a few years later, especially with the rise of the internet during the 2000s.
Developed by Treasure (the studio behind Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier), Mischief Makers is a charming 2D platformer. The game features a unique “shaking” mechanic, a lovable protagonist named Marina, catchy background music and some of the most colorful and detailed sprites on the console. Unfortunately, this hidden gem is still only available on the Nintendo 64, even though fans have been asking for a port or a remaster for more than two decades.
2
Rocket: Robot on Wheels
Sucker Punch’s N64 Platformer That Is Still Pretty Great To Play
For the past two decades, Sucker Punch has been synonymous with PlayStation, with all of its games being console exclusives. However, the studio’s first-ever effort was not for Sony but rather Nintendo, as Rocket: Robot on Wheels was one of many great 3D platformers on the Nintendo 64. While nowhere near as influential or commercially successful as some other genre staples from this era, Robot on Wheels has arguably aged better than most of its peers, largely thanks to weighty movement and logical controls. It shouldn’t really come as a surprise, considering Sucker Punch’s subsequent projects, but Rocket‘s gameplay is completely on point.
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The premise and setting are both charming as hell, as you play as a robot who is tasked with ensuring that a theme park’s launch day goes smoothly. To do so, Rocket has to stop a raccoon mascot, which involves visiting multiple worlds and collecting tickets and tokens. A bizarre theme park is a fantastic setting for a platformer, and the game really lets players explore the grounds rather than force them down a single path. That said, the controls are Rocket: Robot on Wheels‘ strongest asset.
1
WWF No Mercy
Can You Smell What The Nintendo 64 Is Cooking?
If you are not into WWE, you are probably thinking, “Really? The best N64 exclusive is a wrestling game?” I get that, trust me. However, WWF No Mercy isn’t just any wrestling game; no, it is the wrestling game. Except for maybe WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, this N64 classic is generally regarded as the greatest WWE game of all time, largely thanks to its Attitude Era roster, addictive skill-based combat system, and expansive career mode that lets you chase specific titles. Even the graphics still look pretty decent, as long as you don’t mind the old-school art style.
Beyond just being a brilliant fighting game, WWF No Mercy‘s longevity is only matched by the biggest Nintendo 64 games, like Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time. For the past two decades, people have continued to revisit this masterpiece, updating its roster to match either WWE’s current fighters or even featuring other companies like AEW. Its legacy and community are both huge, and licensing issues guarantee that WWF No Mercy will forever remain a N64-only game.
Frankly, WCW vs. nWO World Tour and WWF WrestleMania 2000 also deserve to be featured in this article, but I went with WWF No Mercy as their representative.
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